Suttons Bay senior Charlotte Stowe had a tough choice to make at the end of school in June.

KELLY KERR (1) and Fran Belanger of Suttons
Bay enjoy a lighthearted moment in the Regional
match against McBain Saturday.

Stowe had just completed another solid season as part of the Suttons Bay’s girls’ soccer team when she learned the Michigan High School Athletic Association had finally decided to comply with court rulings and switch the girls’ volleyball and basketball seasons.

Being an outstanding player in both soccer and volleyball, she had to choose between the two sports for fall: either play with the Norse volleyball team, or play with the regional soccer travel team. The choice was obvious to her.

“I chose volleyball. I really like soccer, but the entire volleyball team had dedicated itself to winning a state championship,” Stowe said. Stowe said while there is plenty of camaraderie in playing soccer, it is nothing like the interaction among players on a volleyball team.

“With volleyball you really form a tight bond with all the players. You have to rely on everyone on the floor during a game and match,” she said.

Stowe and her fellow seniors Anna Pryor, Fran Belanger and Arianna Guillen had set a lofty goal for this season; winning the Class C state championship. The Norsemen fell short of that goal, though, losing to McBain in the opening round of Regional play at Kingsley on Saturday. Suttons Bay compiled a 50-9-4 record and won the Northwest Conference regular season title with an 8-0 record, and won the conference tournament title as well.

Belanger has been a solid presence in the Norse’s defense for the last three seasons. She said she put in lot of time over the summer improving her hitting and jumping to become more of a scoring threat. “I went to some camps over the summer to improve my serving and hitting. I did a three-day camp where all we did was hit the ball. I also did a lot of jump training,” Belanger said.

Pryor, Belanger and Stowe all said being part of teams over the last four years that went as far as the Class C semifinals has been very rewarding. “I got to play in the second semifinal we went to. I will never forget that experience or being part of this team,” Pryor said.

Both Stowe and Belanger will be training for the spring soccer season this winter, while Pryor said she will try out for club volleyball team forming in Traverse City.

“We will not be able to replace our seniors next season. I remember watching those girls play as freshman on the junior varsity when I took this job four years ago. It will be hard losing all their experience and ability,” coach Mike Kelly said.

Still, with juniors Maggie Walters, Kelly Kerr, Crystal Dittrich, Emily Seeley and sophomore Emily Send expected to return, Kelly said the Norse should be ready to go again next year.

The Leland volleyball team, meanwhile, did not make it out of its Class D district for the first time in nine years. The Comets ended the season with 27-26-4 record and took third overall in its first year in the Northwest Conference with a 5-3 regular season conference record.

Coach Angie Shinos, in her first year as head of the Comets volleyball team, said this was a transition year not just for her but the entire program. Hall of Fame coach Laurie Glass stepped down after 13 years coaching at Leland. During her tenure Glass coached two state champion teams and had the Comets as a regular participant in the Class D semifinals. Shinos said stepping into Glass’ place was difficult.

“Things didn’t go as planned this year. I was confident we would at least get to the Regional this year, but things happen and you do the best you can,” she said.

Leland loses three talented seniors in Erica Breen, Juliana Lisuk and Erin Sneed. All three played on the 2006 state championship team. “They were our leaders this year and losing them means we lose a lot of experience,” Shinos said. The Comets field a young team with four juniors: Rhiannon Hildenbrandt, Haley Versnyder, Molly Harrison and Dena Popp. Also expected to return next year are sophomores Alanna Toro, Sarah Ruszel, Samantha Nowak and Taylor Jolliffe.

The Glen Lake volleyball team’s season came to a close in the opening round of Class C District play two weeks ago with a loss to Charlevoix. Wins were few and far between for the Lakers, who wound up at 3-34-4 overall record and came in seventh in the Northwest despite not winning a conference match during the regular season.

Coach Sue Flowers loses three seniors, including her oldest daughter Heather, as well as Leaha Carey and Rachelle Brzezinski. “It was fun being able to coach Heather, Leaha and Rachelle this season. We didn’t always play our best, but there is a lot of potential in this team, “ she said. Possible returners for next season are Katie Drzewiecki, Gabe Sitts, and Dani Frost.

The Northport volleyball team got a new coach head coach two days after practice started in August. Former junior varsity coach Kristi Fischer guided the Wildcats to an eight-win season. The “Port” lose seniors Betsy Shiner and Octavia Buss, but returns a young and experienced team with juniors Kristina Leabo, Shauna Sitarek and Mariah Crowgey as well as sophomore Kelly Fischer and freshman Emily Stowe. Also expected to play next year are twin sisters Maria and Victoria Roman.

“We will have good numbers for next season and a middle school team, something we haven’t had for a while,” Coach Fischer said.